TL;DR - This is a great tent for two or three people. Its freestanding nature makes it much more flexible than a semi-freestanding tent.
Shop and Gear: Backpacking Gear
TL;DR - I've always just worn my "current old pair" of tennis shoes when I'm out hiking because I never liked hiking boots. They get beat up quickly on desert trails, and so I finally bought some purpose-designed hiking shoes. Wow, what a difference!
TL;DR - Hiking poles are really helpful and make hiking easier.
TL;DR - I got this little inflator as a gift about a year ago, and it has exceeded all of my expectations.
TL;DR - We initially settled on Peak Refuel as the brand that seemed the best for dehydrated meals, but getting a good, dehydrated dinner when backpacking is not something you get by looking to one brand. Evaluating meals individually - and ignoring the brand of each - led to a much better experience our second time around.
TL;DR - We loved this water filter. It made some pretty nasty looking water look and taste like home!
TL;DR - We got the wrong tent. It has been returned.
TL;DR - Quest protein bars were a "fine" breakfast, but the Crispy Cookies and Cream were the only ones I'd buy again.
TL;DR - The Jetboil Zip was amazing. It boils water quickly and doesn't use much fuel. It is light and packs conveniently.
TL;DR - Very few of these rehydrated properly, even with boiling water and extra time. Next time, we'll probably try something different.
TL;DR - Didn't like this Exped as much as I hoped I would, but it has some redeeming qualities and I'm keeping it.
TL;DR - I liked this sleeping bag more than I thought I would and I'm glad I shelled out for it.
TL;DR - I really liked the ULA Ultra Circuit backpack and I'd buy it again, even though it needs a little more padding in a couple of places.
It's no surprise that - compared to the average human - I have a lot of camping gear. While I'm not one of those folks who always has to have the latest and greatest - in fact, I'll generally go for the simple, tried-and-true option - I have found that having the right gear can make camp life much more pleasant. A fridge, a nice Exped air mattress in the tent, and a down puffy have been just a few of the bits of gear that I've really come to enjoy over the years. But one thing's for sure -…
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TL;DR - To maximize our breakfasts, we decided on Quest Protein Bars. They were all filling, none were terrible, but Crispy Cookies and Creme was far and away the best.
TL;DR - In prioritizing weight, we wanted to find high-calorie, tasty meals to eat for dinner. Reviews suggested that Peak Refuel would fit that bill, so we tried a few. They were all tasty.
TL;DR - We got a small Jetboil because we plan to have all of our cooking be for rehydrating meals. It seems spectacular for boiling water.
TL;DR - I got a high-quality water filtration system a few years ago and never used it; we will definitely be using it this time!
TL;DR - I'm a little worried we got the wrong tent. We couldn't pass up the price (at 50% off), but it's not entirely freestanding, so may be harder to use on impermeable surfaces, like slickrock.
TL;DR - I love my Exped Megamat in the rooftop tent, so I'm getting a lightweight version for backpacking.
